A DALE community rallied round a village resident to help raise more £1,500 for Muscular Dystrophy UK thanks to an auction of promises.
Keen cyclist Lynne Cummins, from Whorlton, will be getting on her bike in August to tackle the gruelling 100 mile Ride London event and raise funds for Muscular Dystrophy UK.
When her friends and neighbours in the village found out, they decided to help raise extra cash and organised the auction.
The event, which was held on Saturday, May 18, in the village hall, saw a wealth of prizes donated, ranging from signed rugby balls through to weekend stays at hotels as well as gift vouchers, a magnum of Proscecco and vouchers from local businesses and shops.
Auctioneer John Emerson kept everyone entertained during the evening, which was followed by a pie and peas supper.
All concerned declared the event a “thoroughly enjoyable evening” and raised £1,500 for the charity.
Jane Robineau, chairwoman of Whorlton Village Hall committee, said: “We would really like to thank the team of volunteers from the village who help put this together.
“We are a small community but we are good at pulling together.”
It will be the second time Mrs Cummins will tackle the Prudential Ride 100 Londonevent. Last year she battled through torrential rain to complete the route through the capital.
She said: “I was going to sit it out this year, but I couldn’t resist. I just hope it doesn’t rain this year at it was hard work last time.
“I decided to do the ride in memory of my mother, Joyce Thompson, who died last year. She was one of the founders of the Darlington branch of Muscular Dystrophy as three of her sons had the disease along with three of her brothers.”
Muscular dystrophy is a progressive inherited genetic condition that gradually causes the muscles to weaken leading to an increasing level of disability and at present there is no known cure.
Mrs Cummins added: “I have been lucky enough to benefit from the research that my mother supported in the 1960s. I now have two grandsons who are fit and healthy as my DNA was checked and I was found not to be a carrier.”
Anyone wishing to donate to Mrs Cummins’ appeal can do so through her online fundraising page at justgiv
ing.com/fundraising/lynne-
cummins2
